48 AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE OF MICHIGAN. 



Family RECURVIROSTRIDJE. Avocets and Stilts. 



Very long bills and legs; food small molluscs, crustaceans and insects. 



Genus KECUHVIROSTRA Linn. 



98-225(600). Recurvirostra americana Gmel. American Avocet. 



"One specimen from Michigan in the Kent Scientific Institute" (E. L. Moseley); 

 one taken by W. H. Collins near Detroit; embraced in Butler's Birds of Indiana. 



Genus HIMANTOPUS Beiss. 



99-226-(601). Himantopns Mexicanns (Mull). Black-necked Stilt. 



" Rare transient " (Gibbs' Birds of Michigan); of doubtful occurrence in Michigan. 

 Dr. Steere gives it doubtfully as breeding in Michigan. 



Family SCOLOPACIDJE. Snipes, Sandpipers etc. 



Feed on small aquatic animals, insects etc.; eggs densely spotted, usually pointed 

 at one end; game birds. 



Woodcock, head and outer primaries, natural size. 

 Ghnus PLILOHELA Gbay. 



100-228-1605). Philohela minor (Gmel). *American Woodcock. 



Common from March, rarely February, to October or November; '• occasionally 

 every month of the year" (Gibbs); throughout the state; "formerly very common in 

 Wayne county, but goes as the marshes are drained" (Dr. W. C. Brownell); R. H. 

 Wolcott saw one January 1, 1888, at Grand Rapids, when the snow was one foot deep; 

 reported from Presque Isle Co.; "Grand Traverse Co." (Dr. M. L. Leach); "Mackinac 

 Island" (S. E. White); "Iron Mountain" (E. E. Brewster); "Keweenaw Point" (Knee- 

 land); breeds; nests in April, on the ground in thick brush; eggs four, gray, specked 

 and spotted with dark brown; esteemed as a game bird; taken at the College, October 

 30, 1892. 



